During the recent California firestorms, structure protection was the priority for all firefighting agencies. In more than 80% of all fire departments in North America, the threat of structural losses from ground-cover fires occurring in forests, woods, brush or other wildland exists. Interface protection isn't just for wildland firefighters any more. As these “campaign fires” continue to mobilize federal, state, local and private fire companies to assist, this subject becomes even more critical to master.

The defensive posture can't be surround and drown on a large wildland fire. The fire won't stand still long enough to use that tactic. Instead, a strategic transition into a structure protection mode can limit community losses until the fire can be slowed or stopped by a weather change or firefighting aircraft, or it moves into areas with modified fuels. Firefighters must be trained in structure protection techniques or they can easily be threatened by a fast-moving fire and may lose the property they are trying to protect. The California Department of Forestry firefighter killed in San Diego during this fire season was involved in a structure protection operation.

The available firefighting strategies are offensive, defensive and marginal. In an offensive fire attack, firefighters will attempt to attack a flank of the fire and stop the forward progress with the appropriate fire suppression resources. In a defensive maneuver, the fire is clearly in control. Firefighters may attempt to slow the progress of the fire, reduce the size of the fire or provide structural fire protection.

When providing structural fire protection, the goal is to prepare and defend the structures in the fire's path. In a wind-driven fire, the head of the fire or fire front will be traveling at wind speed. Fire companies must remain mobile and rapidly move from structure to structure providing protection. It is only in this manner that significant numbers of structures will be protected. It also will limit firefighter exposure to the fire by staying ahead of it.

Structural triage is the process of identifying, sorting and committing resources to a specific structure. The maintenance and defensible space provided by the homeowner prior to the fire will be used in conjunction with building materials and vegetation types to decide whether a structure is a “winner” or “loser.” If there isn't sufficient defensible space, crews will be threatened and the risks to providing protection may be too great. Firefighters must understand how to differentiate a winner from a loser.

Structures that are winners will have:

• Defensible space around structure of 30 inches minimum.
• Clear entry and egress routes.
• Tile or other non-combustible roofing.
• No wood piles, storage or hazardous materials.
• Drought-resistant landscaping.
• A swimming pool, lake or pond.
• Short eaves and protected attic vents.

Structures that are losers will have:

• No defensible space for apparatus, personnel and hoselines. The combustibles will be right up against apparatus and structure.
• Overhanging combustible trees and other obstructions.
• Wood or shake roofing with flammable leaves, needles and duff.
• Wood piles against house, trash, vegetation, chemical, drums and barrels.
• Dead grass, trees or other vegetation.
• No water supply.
• Long, open eaves and unprotected vents.

Fire suppression resources should be organized to provide the maximum amount of fire protection capability. A typical structure protection task force may consist of three engines, a water tender or tanker, and a task-force leader. The engines may be structural fire engines (types 1 or 2) or they may be wildland engines (types 3-5). The preference would be for structural engines to provide this type of work, but if these engines aren't available, you'll have to make do with the best resources that you can assemble.

Several task forces can be organized as a structure protection group. This group may consist of three to five task forces serving under a division/group supervisor. The structure protection group supervisor should be familiar with the predominant construction types, fuel types, water supply availability and limitations, and areas that can be used as staging or escape zones. If time permits, task force leaders and division/group supervisors should take the opportunity to see the area to be protected in daylight. If structures can be categorize and triaged, then the fire attack will be better planned and executed. It's the role of the task force leader to ensure that fire control objectives are being met.

The safety of individual engine companies is ensured by the oversight of the task force leader. The safety of individual task forces is carried out by the oversight of the division/group supervisor. Prior to the fire moving into the residential or commercial area, individual engine companies can go to work in improving the defensible space and preparing their work area for more successful operations. This rapid assessment and preparation provides a safe structure protection assignment.

The critical concepts of providing structure protection during a defensive, wind-driven fire are pretty easy to master on the drill ground. The key is to ensure that when the “fire storm” hits, the firefighters remember the basics. Far too often, they look like tourists, wide-eyed and paralyzed gawking at the 60-foot flame lengths. Here are the key points to drill on:

1. Structural fire protection is a defensive strategy.

2. Structural fire protection is dangerous.

3. Structural triage sets the objectives and parameters for structure protection.

4. Risk management uses checklists to evaluate hazards in response to tactics and strategy.

5. Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes and Safety will keep firefighters from getting killed.

6. The 10 Standard Fire Orders and 18 Watch-Out situations are keys to survival for all firefighters.

In setting up the drill, assign a wildland fire crew to an interface area. It's not necessary to have a live-fire scenario. If you do, even if it's only be a mound of vegetation or brush that has been piled up for the drill, establish dozer control lines and limit the size of the fire to a half-acre or less. Have backup suppression resources and a water supply established at the burn. Use a prescribed-burning checklist and start the burn around 7 or 8 a.m. so all burning can be finished before the peak burning period of 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Assign the first-in company/chief officer to escalate the response to include strike teams and task forces. Have extra staff chiefs respond to take the staging area, strike team-leader positions and the division and group supervisor slots.

Once the units are set up in task forces consisting of three or four engines, a water tender/tanker and leader, assign them a neighborhood or subdivision in which to provide structure protection. Have an exercise evaluator at each cluster of five houses. Spread out the task forces into different parts of the area so they're not running into each other. At each structure, have the units back in, make a quick size-up for “winning ” or “losing” characteristics, and then have them use homeowners' ladders to place on the roof. The engine should pull off two 1H-inch lines and stretch one to each side of the residence. Have the driver stick the garden hose in the top of the tank and have the company officer identify and communicate the safety/escape zone to all personnel. Have the evaluator call them to “pick up and move!”

The engine company should snake the attack lines on the side or the top of the engine and move to the next structure to repeat the process. On several of the structures, have the evaluator call to the company officer, “The fire has overrun your position and you must deploy fire shelters and take cover.” The officer should find an appropriate place to deploy shelters or use the inside of the structure if that's the better option. After several cycles of this, students should learn that:

• Safety is paramount. We must all know the safety zone/escape route at all times.
• Crew integrity saves lives.
• We must stay mobile. Don't take ownership on these structures.
• Triage indicators decide if we stay or move to the next one.
• We must coordinate and often communicate with the task force leader and other companies for updates on fire travel and behavior, assignments, water supply and changes in the tactical plan.
• Physical fitness pays off.

A critical component in making structure protection successful is operational leadership. From the section chiefs to the group supervisors and task force and strike team leaders, leadership is crucial. Leadership means providing purpose, direction and motivation for wildland firefighters working to accomplish difficult tasks under dangerous, stressful circumstances. In confusing and uncertain situations, a good operational leader will:

1. Take charge of assigned resources.

2. Motivate firefighters with a “can do safely” attitude.

3. Demonstrate initiative by taking action in the absence of orders.

4. Communicate with crews by giving specific instructions and asking for feedback.

5. Supervise at the scene of action.

For an in-depth look at lessons from the 2003 wildland fire season, check out the March American Heat on FETN. “Firestorm 2003: Safe Structure Protection” shows the essential elements of providing structure protection on a large wind-driven fire. Whether you're in Boston or Boise, all fire officers need this review. It really can happen at your place.

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John Linstrom is the education consultant for FETN. He served more than 20 years in fire departments in California and Texas before retiring with the rank of assistant chief. Linstrom is a National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer graduate and adjunct instructor. In addition, he's a member of the Federal Mass-Fatalities Recovery Team and California Task Force 6.

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